Beckham's braid new world . . .

HIS hairstyle has yet again caused shock waves and is guaranteed to spark copycats, but David Beckham is one of the few white sport stars that could carry off such an audacious look, according to Wales's very own barnet king.

HIS hairstyle has yet again caused shock waves and is guaranteed to spark copycats, but David Beckham is one of the few white sport stars that could carry off such an audacious look, according to Wales's very own barnet king.

Cardiff City striker Robert Earnshaw, who changes his own hairstyle almost as often as he scores goals, said he too may opt for the braided look later this year.

The striker is famed for the creative partnership he has formed with his stylist George Yiacoumi - who cuts his hair for &#xA3;10 - marginally less than Beckham pays for his trend- setting styles.

Earnshaw, who will make another visit to his barber's this Friday, never knows what style he is going to opt for until he reaches the salon.

At Paul's Continental Hair Styles in Cardiff, he and George decide between them what look he should go for to blaze a trail in the haircutting stakes.

He said, "I have only had a little glimpse of it (Beckham's hairstyle) to be fair, but he can carry it off.

"He is the only one who can carry it off.

"He starts trends off doesn't he - he is that sort of person.

"A few of the other boys like Jay-Jay Okocha have got it.

"I think it's good - I like it."

Earnshaw, 22, revealed he almost beat Beckham to the braided look by four years - he wanted the style during his time with the Cardiff youth team.

"I grew my hair a few years ago and I was going to have it, but I decided to leave it.

"I was still with the youth team and I wasn't allowed to have it really.

"I might have it later on in the year - I'll see."

Sports editor of black newspaper The Voice, Rodney Hinds agreed Beckham was one of the few white footballers who could get away with a hairstyle so closely associated with black people.

He said Beckham's PR machine is so effective, the Manchester United star seems unable to put a foot wrong.

"I looked at it (Beckham's hairstyle) the other day and I thought 'yeah'.

"If it was on Michael Owen it definitely wouldn't work.

"Whereas I think it works for David Beckham.

"At the moment he just seems to have this thing about him where most things work for him.

"I don't know who is doing his PR, but they're getting it right at the minute.

"You don't look at him and think, 'God that's a disaster'.

"I think we have had a few of them in the past with a few other footballers.

"David Beckham does the sort of things that a lot of black men would do if they were earning &#xA3;50,000 to &#xA3;60,000 a week.

"They would drive a nice car, go to the best places and spend &#xA3;10,000 on a pair of trousers.

"A lot of Beckham's popularity stems from what he does away from the field.

"From what I hear a lot of black women like him because of how he looks.